Viking's Mate (Twilight OC X OC)

Chapter 32: Bella Deflected

~ Ivar POV ~

A few days have passed since the nomads killed the man on the boat. I have not left my mate's side, even if she does not know it. I have watched over her from the woods each night if I am not laying with her. Jasper has watched her for me when I must hunt, which I thank him for, though I do not travel far. I leave the Cullen's to deal with finding the nomads. It is Edward's human who supposedly gets hunted, so it is their problem to deal with them. I will help, but not at the expense of my mate, she is my main concern.

Carlisle heeded my mate's advice and set up hunting groups. They already often hunt together, but the idea of having either myself, Jasper or Emmett in each group was wise. Emmett has been the most enthusiastic about hunting the nomads, and often Edward and Alice go with him, trying to use their gifts to aid in finding them.

"Everyone?" I hear Alice say lightly from downstairs, so I go down to see what she needs. I just got back from a hunt, and am about to relieve Jasper from his watch.

"Alice?" Carlisle asks her. "What did you see?"

"It's Bella." She says with a furrowed brow, turning towards Edward. "She's figured it out, but not completely. She is going to confront you tomorrow. She's basing it off the Quileute legends, our cold skin and how we talk. She's not completely confident, but she knows something is different. I can't see beyond her confronting you though, it's not clear on the outcome."

"So now another human is going to know?" Rosalie asks with a scoff. I growl at her warningly. "Aria is your mate, and not a normal human, so I have accepted her knowing." She defends herself immediately to placate me. "But Bella is not a mate, and those damn mutts told our secret." She hisses out the last part.

"She could be my mate! We don't know for sure yet..." Edward tries to defend. "If she figured it out on her own, there's no laws broken." Edward tries to defend.

"The moment you confirm the truth, you have broken the law. Keep that in mind." I warn him sternly. "Aria is a strange exception, but one that will not go hidden forever. She is a known mate, and by law even she will either have to be turned... or killed." I choke out the last part, unable to imagine it. I thank the gods she has chosen to stay with me, but I know I would run with her to the end of her life if she chose otherwise.

"She's already chosen?" Edward asks incredulously, reading my mind.

"Stay out of my head boy. My mate's choices are her own, our future is our own. We are discussing your human now." I tell him firmly.

"There may be a way to deflect her." Alice intervenes delicately. "As I said, she's uncertain with what she knows. But she likely will find out for sure, I still sometimes see her as one of us." Alice tells Edward.

"Yeah, maybe she doesn't have to find out now. I would rather focus on hunting down the nomads. I've been looking forward to a fight." Emmett says confidently.

"I just want you to be happy sweetheart. And I can see that Bella makes you happy. I know how you hate lying to her." Esme says maternally to Ed, gently grabbing his shoulder.

"We should vote." Rose says stubbornly, a glare on her face. "This effects our entire coven. Ivar is not a member, so his choice to tell his mate or not was his to make. He said it when he told us. We don't know what kind of danger the Swan girl will bring us. We can't rely on Aria to be able to prevent everything that could happen." Rose finishes firmly.

"Fine. A vote." Edward spits out. "On whether to confirm her suspicions tomorrow or not. Jasper isn't here, so we will get his vote later. I'll start. I vote yes, she should know."